Headlight Bulbs

[BenzComander]

The dipped beam light in the little light on my W210 has blown, but the sidelight still works. Now the dipped beam from the big light has blown as well!!

Before I take the light out, anybody got any top tips on the type and best bulbs to buy. The lights are pretty good anyway (they are not Xenon) and would change all the bulbs if there were some that would improve them further.

Cheers

 

[GregE240]

Benz,

The dipped beams are H7 bulbs.

I have Philips Vision Plus in mine and the difference is marked, for sure. Still got the OEM bulbs in main beam.

Several of the pundits here have PIAA bulbs installed, but I cannot for the life of me remember what type (Platinum, Extreme?) of bulbs the guys are using. Hopefully someone will provide enlightenment!

Cheers,
Greg

PS - replacing yourself is a "skin off knuckles" job, particularly the OS, where the airbox is. If you have headlamp wash (and thus a larger washer bottle), the nearside isn't much easier.

 

[BenzComander]

Thanks Greg,

I know about the skin off the knuckles when doing the bulbs as had to take the light out to replace the rubber seal around the headlight lense recently. (Misted up) Typical the bulbs go pop just as my knuckles recovered from that!!!!

You would think that when a manufacturer designs a car part of the brief would be to make the consumable items as easy to replace as possible!!

 

[GregE240]

Its like this:

One morning a sidelight bulb blows on your way into work.
Conveniently, your MB dealer is straight over the road.
You decide "Ah, what the hell" and go in and ask if they can do it while you wait. They can.
You sit down and enjoy a stale cup of coffee and yesterdays paper, admiring some of the women passing through the showroom.
Some time later, the mechanic appears saying all is rosy in the garden again.
You are charged £23 to replace a sidelight bulb. Oh, and a cup of "coffee".

That, my friend, is why.

 

[BenzComander]

AAHHHHH!!!

They wouldnt dare! would they??

On my Audi to change the passenger side bulb takes one hand and about 30 seconds. The drivers side takes about an hour, with removal of half the engine!! How your supposed to change it on the side of the road in the dark I will never know!

 

[lil.smartie]

Have you done a Smart one though? you either need to borrow a small child, only their arm can fit through the vents, or remove the front 3 panels!

Kate

 

[BenzComander]

Luckily my smartie only ever needed fuel!!

SRU remap, delipped intake, Pipercross filter, Bailey dump valve and foot to the floor
WhooooooshPissssssssPauseforgearchangeWhooooooooshPisssssssssPauseforgearchange repeat until fuel runs out

 

[McGreggor]

Several of the pundits here have PIAA bulbs installed, but I cannot for the life of me remember what type (Platinum, Extreme?) of bulbs the guys are using. Hopefully someone will provide enlightenment!

PIAA Extreme White seem to be the favored variety, I'm getting a couple of pairs of H1 bulbs soon for my main beams and fogs.